How do you keep a dog from grabbing things off the counter?

Question

I have a yellow lab that's 8 months old. When I need to leave the house for extended periods I put him in the kitchen behind a childs gate. I have a dog run outside but I'm a bit nervous that he'll decide he wants to escape one day, although he hasn't ever tried. When I come home it's not unusual to find things that were on the counter down on the ground. I've tried to put him in there while I'm home to catch him in the act, but he's pretty slick and waits for me to walk out of the line of sight before he strikes. He's even managed to get a pot out of the sink, he's good, I'll give him that much :)

The first thing I did was move everything off the counters, but if something's left, it's fair game for him. I sometimes find him grabbing things off my workbench in the garage too and taking them outside to play.

I've give him plenty of toy and bone options to play with but I think for him it's a game and a challenge to get to the things up high.

Answer 1

Someone mentioned mouse traps, and while it works on certain things, I wouldn't put them anywhere that your dog is grabbing things with his mouth. He could end up with one on his tongue or lips...if you aren't home, he could injure himself removing it.

Take paper towels, soak them in ammonia and lay them on the counters. Dogs HATE the smell..(so does any other critter). Put them out along the counters when you leave. It won't take more than a couple times...if that, before he stays away from your counters.
(this worked for me when my kitten wouldn't stay down. One time was all it took and she hasn't been on a counter since. My vet said there was no harm in doing so, one lil whiff of the ammonia wouldn't harm the kitten, just get her down.)

If you have skunks or any other varmit in your yard/garden you do not want...a throw away pie tin with ammonia in it. (just enough to cover the bottom) and they won't come back.


Good luck!

Answer 2

OK. You've done the first thing - taking things off the counter - and I presume the sink as well. This is a FAMILY thing however - everyone MUST do this - not just you.

So you take the temptation away.

Now make it unpleasant. Use mousetraps - the spring type - a LOT of mousetraps - like one every 6 inches apart. So When he gets up on the counter (or table or workbench) he'll put a paw or a nose on the trap and set it off.

You can also spray things that can't be moved (like electric cords etc.) with foul-tasting stuff - like "Chew stop" (which might work well for your workbench).

And for positive reinforcement, use those toys that you can stuff full of treats to keep him occupied for a while. Make them much more inviting than the counters.

I can't guarantee these will work - but it's a start. Again, the best thing is to practice good housekeeping and keep everything out of reach. That means everyone participates however. No slacking.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I would try a deterrent of some sort. There is a product call SSSCAT (not sure of the spelling) you can find it on-line or in some pet stores. It was developed for cats that counter surf. It has a sensor on it, and whenever the sensor is set off the device makes a loud beeping noise and then hisses out a small spray of water. It works like a charm on most cats and dogs, the nosies freaks them out! Another option would be to be double sided clear tape along your counters, whenever the dog jumps up she will get stuck on the tape. You wouldn't have to leave it there forever, after enough times, she may just give up and think that the tape is a permanent addition to your kitchen. What ever method you chose, it has to be something in which she will be "punished" each and every time she gets up there! If she gets away with it once, she will keep trying thinking that this time she will once again get away with it. Might be easier just to block her from the kitchen. Two baby gates double stacked work very well!

Answer 4

It is a game to him. He is still young and this is his way of playing (they love frisbees and balls so maybe keep a few around to distract him with). Also, a lab really benefits from crate training. When you aren't around there is the potential for him to get into many dangerouse things as well as the annoyance. They are also houdinis so unless you have a well fenced ABSOLUTELY ESCAPE PROOF yard I would not leave him outside unattended. I know there are those that don't believe in crates and I originally didn't either but once you use one and see that they feel secure and are content in their "den/home" after being trained, you will never be without one again. It is more cruel to see the number of lost and hurt animals that are in the shelters (or dead after being hit by a car, shot as a stray or poisoned from cruelty or because of their curiousity). Just be patient and loving and it will all get better. LOL

Answer 5

Clear the countertops. Put everything away in the cupboard. When you can't supervise him leave him in his crate. I personally love the fact that there are dog daycares now. That was an idea that was long overdue. Perhaps you could find a dog daycare or dog sitter, or have someone take him for a walk while you are gone. He is young. This will get better.

Answer 6

This might sound sound kinda mean but put something on the counter that you dont care about but put something like tabasco sauce on it. Or a pepper of some sort, nothing too hot but hot enough so that he wont like it. Things that are rally bitter is another good option. He will eventually not like tasting horrible things and stop. It worked on my Great Dane, and not much was ever out of his reach.
Good luck

Answer 7

My boxer USED to do that....solution = mouse traps. set the traps, turn them UPSIDE DOWN and place, carefully, anywhere on the counter where the dogs feet would land. When your dogs paw hits a trap, the trap goes off, the dog gets scared to pieces and stays off the counters!

Answer 8

dog grabbing counter

Answer 9

My dog does the same thing. Boxers love to get into stuff. So I think i will be following these peoples advice belows me. We'll start with the mousetraps.

Answer 10

As a professional dog trainer for over 16 years, I have to tell you my strong opinion that you need these group classes for obedience training. http://OnlineDogTraining.enle.info/?nf04

Other pet warehouses are there to get you to buy their products and hang around their strore. And their trainers are their employees...never forget they have an agenda. Most of the trainers have very little education--if they had actual training and skills they wouldn't be there making just over minimum wage--trust me on this. But even if they did have experience and talent...a group setting is a terrible place for learning to take place. It's distraction training and it is the LAST phase of training not the first. You wouldn't have your child try to do their homework in a toy store, would you? Of course not...the level of distraction would be too high! It's the same with dogs. Having said that, these classes can be an excellent way to socialize dogs...but not to train them. And while they appear to be cheaper than a professional trainer...you have to attend many more sessions to get the same results because of the poor learning environment--so you wind up spending MORE money for less training than you would with a professional. Save your money and go to someone who actually knows how to train dogs. OR, read books and try to train your dog yourself. There is nothing they train at a Petsmart or Petco that you can't do yourself with a couple of hours of reading.